NM HB65

Creates a three-year short-term stabilization pilot program within the Children, Youth and Families Department for children in state custody in Dona Ana, Chaves, San Juan, McKinley, Bernalillo, Santa Fe, and Eddy counties

Requires CYFD and the Health Care Authority to contract with child welfare experts to provide evidence-based treatment including 24-hour crisis intervention, weekly in-home child therapy, monthly family therapy, and parent training on trauma-informed crisis management

Establishes financial incentives to expand placement options, including enhanced contract rates for therapeutic foster parents, start-up funding for small residential settings serving six or fewer children, and bonus payments for providers accepting high-need children

Prioritizes children with frequent placement history, risk of placement disruption, or clinical diagnoses requiring higher therapeutic support, with specialized tracks for those with acute behavioral needs, adolescents, sibling groups, or those needing 7-30 day bridge placements

Appropriates $2,500,000 from the general fund for fiscal years 2027-2029, with unexpended balances reverting to the general fund at the end of FY 2029